Hydraulic descaler



F. G. CIZEK HYDRAULIC DESCALER Nov. 29, 1960 1 R l m gw f QR QN Maw wfiww 7 M MB m *m 6% mm M a m F. G. CIZEK HYDRAULIC DESCALER Nov. 29, 1960Filed May 9, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

W/ ea f Nov. 29, 1960 F. G. ClZEK HYDRAULIC DESCALER 3 Sheets-Sheet 3Filed May 9, 1956 weaf HYDRAULIC DESCALER Frank G. Cizek, Cincinnati,Ohio, assignor to American gteel Foundries, Chicago, III., a corporationof New ersey Filed May 9, 1956, Ser. No. 583,882

9 Claims. (CI. 29-81) This invention relates to a self-containedportable type apparatus for removing, by means of high pressure waterspray, surface scale from heated billets which are to be subsequentlyforged.

The high pressure water spray process for removing scale from heatedbillets prior to the forging thereof is the fastest and most eflicientdescaling method known. In this process the preheated billet is passedat a predetermined rate through a controlled spray of high pressurewater. The force of the impinging water first contracts and breaks thescale and then washes the loosened scale from the surface of the billet.A surface is thereby produced which requires no subsequent sand blastingfor removal of scale. The advantages of this method are low operatingcosts and a greatly increased life of the forging dies when the descaledbillet is subsequently forged.

Most of the existing descaling equipment is large and cumbersome andtherefore necessarily fixed in location. This results in excessivehandling and transporting of billets to the various forging hammers withconsequent heat losses in the billets prior to forging. Portabledescaling machines currently on the market have several disadvantagesincluding: First, accommodation of only a small range of billetdiameters unless parts of the machine are changed, and second, theutilization of a combined water-oil system with the consequent danger ofcontamination, through leakage, of one of the fluids by mixture with theother fluid,

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a descaling devicewhich is completely portable thereby eliminating the necessity ofmultiple handling of billets and the transporting of billets from thedescaler to the harnmer or forging press.

Another object of the invention is to provide a descaling apparatushaving equalized water spray distribution through novel one-way nozzles.

Another object of the invention is the provision of adjustable nozzleswherein the water spray can be directed more effectively onunsymmetrical objects.

Another object of the invention is to provide a portable descalerwherein the spray water system and the cylinder actuating oil system arecompletely separate thereby negating any co-mingling of oil and Water.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a portable descalingmachine which is adapted to accommodate a large range of billetdiameters without the necessity of interchanging parts of the machine.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a water system for aportable descaler which includes means to prevent water draining fromthe system between descaling cycles.

These objects together with other objects and advantages will beapparent from the following specification and drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the portable descaler;

Figure 2 is a top plan 'Figure 1;

view of the device shown in s Patent F A 2,961,741 Patented Nov. 29,1960 Figure 3 is a partial front view of the descaler showing moreclearly the spray nozzle ring and the adjusting means therefor;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective View of the descalingportion of the machine;

Figure 5 is a longitudinal section through a spray nozzle;

Figure 6 is a diagram of device, and

Figure 7 is an electrical wiring diagram for the apparatus.

Referring to the drawings, it will be seen that the machine comprises aframe 10 which supports on the lower portion thereof the control andpower components which are indicated generally at 12 and a sump andscale basket indicated at 13. The frame supports on the upper portionthereof the descaling section which is indicated generally at 14 and thepower cylinder section which is indicated generally at 16.

The descaling section 14, the internal construction of which is shown inFigures 3 and 4, comprises a cabinet 18 (Figure 4), the sides of whichare formed of swinging doors 20 which are counterweighted as at 22 for apurpose to be described hereinafter. Centrally of the cabinet 18 is aV-shaped trough 24 adapted to support the billet (not shown) which is tobe descaled.

The machine may be loaded from the front where an adjustable billetreceiving tray 25 (Figures 1 and 2) is provided or, alternately, themachine may be loaded from either side by means of an inclined loadingchute 26 (Figures 2 and 4) which is provided with conventional screwtype adjustments generally indicated at 28. The loading chute in theillustrated embodiment comprises a frame 27 having slide bars 29 mountedthereon. The frame 27 is supported at its inner end by the cabinet 18and is supported at its outer end by the adjustment means 28. The angleof the loading chute and the position of the counterweights 22 onthreaded studs 31 are regulated so that when a billet is placed on theside loading chute, it will roll toward the cabinet and bump the doorwith suflicient force to cause the door to open, aided by thecounterweights, and roll down into the V-shaped trough 24 at which timethe door will automatically swing to its closed position.

At the extreme end of the machine, there is an adjustable hollow sprayring 30 (Figure 3) which is provided with a plurality of spray nozzles32 of which there preferably would be either four or eight for round,square and hexagonal bars. Odd shaped pieces may require a specialpattern. The spray ring is in the form of a hollow annulus so that whenthe ring is centered around the billet, all of the spray nozzles areuniformly spaced from the peripheral surface of the billet. Mounted onthe frame is a flanged guide member 34 which extends across the top andalong the sides of the ring 36, as best seen in Figure 3, and holds thespray ring in fixed position laterally but permits movement of the sprayring upwardly or downwardly so that the ring may be adjusted with itsaxis coaxial with the axes of billets of differing diameters. A pair oflugs 35 extend outwardly of the spray ring through slots (not shown) inthe member 34 and rotatably receive threaded rods 36 which extendupwardly from the lugs, as best seen in Figure 3, and are threadablyreceived through fixed nuts 38 which are secured to the flange 34. Oneof the threaded rods 36 is provided at its upper end with a sprocket 40which is interconnected by means of a chain 42 to a sprocket 44 securedto the upper end of the other threaded rod 36. An adjusting handle 46 issecured to or formed integrally with the sprocket 44 so that rotation ofthe handle will cause both sprockets and both adjusting rods to rotatesimultaneously. Depending on the direction of rotation, the

the hydraulic system of the threaded rods will be moved upwardly ordownwardly because of their threaded engagement with the fixed nuts 38,and this upward or downward movement will be transmitted to the lugs 35and consequently to the nozzle carrying ring 30. In this manner, thenozzles may be spaced evenly from a billet regardless of the diameterofthe billet, and uniform descaling will result without excessivecooling of any portion of the billet which would occur if the ring werenot centered about the billet. By inserting an adapter 31 (Figure 6)between any of the nozzles 32 and the spray ring 30, both the sprayangle of the nozzles and also the distance of the nozzles from the sprayring may be varied. This feature, together with the earlier mentionedfeature of possible variation of the number and peripheral location ofthe spray nozzles, permits adaptation of the spray pattern to descaleirregularly shaped billets effectively.

Referring again to Figures 3 and 4, it is seen that a pusher head 48 isprovided which is generally conical in shape and is formed in a seriesof steps 39 of decreasing diameter toward the apex of the cone. Thisconical stepped contour has the effect of deflecting the water sprayagainst the trailing end of the billet as it passes through the sprayring thereby assuring complete descaling of the entire billet. It shouldbe noted that the stepped cone will accommodate the complete range ofdiameters of billets which may be descaled in the machine. The pusherhead 4-8 is secured to the end of a piston rod 50 (Figures 1, 2 and 6)which is in turn secured to a piston 52 (Figure 6) reciprocable in anoil cylinder 54. Extending from the side of the piston opposite thepiston rod 50 is another piston rod 56 which extends outwardly of theoil cylinder 54 and is secured to a transverse yoke 58. The yoke 58 alsocarries for movement therewith rams 60 received within a pair of watercylinders 62-62, respectively. It will be understood that suitablepacking is provided in all of the cylinders, even though the packing isnot shown in the drawings. Although two water cylinders are shown inthis embodiment and are preferable in order to obtain equal waterdistribution and a balanced load on the yoke, in some embodiments onewater cylinder may be utilized instead of two.

Referring to Figure 6, it is seen that water is fed into the system froma customers supply line 72 through a shut off valve 74 and a check valve76 and thence through lines 78 and 80 and to the water cylinders 62. Thewater of the customer is generally city water at approximately fortypounds pressure, and this pressure is enough to overcome the resistanceof the check valve 76 which is provided in the line to prevent forcefulexpulsion of water from the system and back into the city line duringthe descaling portion of the cycle with the possibility of contaminatingthe water supply.

Prior to the beginning of a cycle, oil is circulated from a pump 82through a four-way valve 84 and thence through line 86 and line 88 intothe low pressure side 89 of the oil cylinder 54. The pressure is keptlow by means of a regulator valve 90 which by-passes the circulated oilat a predetermined pressure and returns surplus oil to a reservoir 92.The combined pressures of the low pressure oil and the water supply urgethe rams 60, the piston 52 and the pusher head 48 rearwardly to thereturn end of the stroke at which time a limit switch 94 will be closedfor a purpose to be explained hereinafter in conjunction with theoperating cycle. It should also be understood that the force of the oil,which is urging the oil piston rearwardly, is preferably less than theforce of the water urging the rams 62 rearwardly. If this were not so,the rams would be forced rearwardly at a faster rate than the lines 78and 80 and the water cylinders 62 could be filled with water and as aconsequence, air might be drawn into these lines through the spraynozzles. Action of this type might possibly result in poor descalingbecause during the descaling portion of the cycle the air pockets inlines 96 would prevent the proper amount of water for descaling frombeing delivered through the nozzles.

In the descaling portion of the cycle, which will also be describedhereinafter in greater detail, high pressure oil is delivered to thehigh pressure side 53 of the oil cylinder 54 thereby driving the piston52 and the pusher head 48 forward at a predetermined rate of speed. Thepusher head in turn drives the heated billet out of the cabinet throughthe descaling spray system. As the piston 52 moves forward, the rams 60will also move forwardly, inasmuch as they are secured to the same yokeand are movable therewith. The water, therefore, which had filled thewater cylinders 62 is now forced at high pressurethrough the lines 96,through the spray ring 30, and thence through the nozzles 32 and ontothe billet. It will be understood that the rate of speed at which thebillet is moved through the spray and the quantity of water which issprayed onto the billet can be correlated to any desired relationship sothat the proper descaling action will occur with the least amount ofwater and consequently the smallest cooling effect on the billet. Aone-way check valve 98 is inserted in each of the lines 96 as close tothe spray ring as possible to aid in preventing water from draining fromthe system between descaling cycles or from being sucked back into thewater cylinders on the return stroke thereof. These valves are, .ofcourse, set at a pressure higher than the pressure setting of checkvalve 76 and the pressure of the source 72.

In utilizing separate water and oil cylinders, with the oil cylinderhaving a piston secured to and movable with the pusher head, and each ofthe cylinders having a piston secured to and movable with a common yoke,it is possible to accurately control the quantity of water dischargedfrom the nozzle for each increment of movement of the pusher head. This,as mentioned heretofore, results in uniform water coverage on the billetand complete descaling with minimum cooling. This important result isattained without any danger of water leaking into the oil system or oilleaking into the water system. Where a unitary oil-water cylinder isused, the eventual wear of the packing material results in undesirableco-mingling of the two fluids.

The spray nozzle assembly which is utilized in the descaling machine isillustrated in Figure 5 and comprises a hollow body 200 which isthreaded as at 202 to receive a threaded nut 204 by means of which thenozzle 206 may be releasably secured to the body. A helical coil spring208 urges a ball 210 against a tapered seat 212 to prevent flow of waterthrough the nozzle at low pressures. Thistype of construction aids inkeeping the lines full of water which will be immediately availableduring the descaling portion of the cycle. Positioned between the nozzle206 and the ball 210 and disposed internally of the spring 208 is ahollow stop member 214 which is provided with a plurality of ports 216.In order to minimize spring failures due to the high water pressureexerting a sufficient force on the ball 210 during the descaling portionof the cycle to compress the spring solid, a stop 214- is utilized. Thestop prevents the spring from closing ofi flow to the orifice. Byinserting the stop 214 in the assembly and making the height of the stopgreater than the solid compressed height of the spring, the springcompresses a sufficient amount to permit flow past the ball but isrestrained from compressing solidly and then being twisted and distortedas the high pressure water forced its way through the solid spring.Water flow is thereby permited between the coils of the spring andthrough the ports 216 in the stop member 214 and thence through theorifice of the nozzle. The spring, therefore, is never overstressed ordistorted, and spring failures are reduced to a minimum.

Describing now an operating cycle of the device and referring to Figures6 and 7, it should be recalled that the descaling machine can be loadedfrom the, front or from either side. Side loading shall beconsideredfirst. In side loading, the operator first depresses a motorstart switch 113 thereby completing a circuit to energize the coil of arelay 119 to start the motor 83 and also completing a circuit to closenormally open contacts 118 to hold the motor circuit closed after theoperator releases the switch 113. The operator then momentarilydepresses a normally open switch 101 which completes a circuit throughnormally closed contacts 106, of a switch 104 in side loading positionthereof, switch 101 and normally closed contacts 166 to energize thecoil of a control relay 100 thereby closing the contacts 102 and 112 ofthe relay 100. Closing contacts 102 holds the circuit through the relay100 after the operator releases the normally open switch 101. The billetis then placed on the loading chute 106 and its weight causes it to openone of the doors 20 on the side of the cabinet 18. The door, whenopening, closes contacts 114 and 116 and opens contacts 115 and 117,these contacts being in limit switches conveniently located on thecabinet 18 for actuation by the door. If at this time the rams 60 andthe yoke 58 are not in their extreme rearward position, nothing furtherwill happen. However, if the rams are in the proper position, the limitswitch 94 will be closed by bracket 164 extending from the yoke 58 and acircuit will be completed through contacts 94, normally closed contacts108 of the selector switch 104, contacts 112 and contacts 116 toenergize the coil of a control relay 120. Energization of this coilcloses contacts 122, 126 and 134 of the relay 120, the contacts 122acting to hold the circuit through the relay 120, even when contacts112, 114 and 116 are opened as will be explained hereinafter. When thebillet drops into its proper position on the V- shaped trough 24, thedoor will overcome counterweights 22' and will swing closed. The closingof the door causes contacts 114 and 116 to open and also causes contacts115 and 117 to close. At this time a circuit is completed through thecontacts of switch 94, the contacts 126 of relay 120, the closed limitswitch contacts 115 and 117 and the normally closed contacts of limitswitch 128 to energize the coil of a control relay 130. Energization ofthis coil opens normally closed contacts 166 to deenergize the coil ofrelay 100 and also closes the normally open contacts 132 to complete aholding circuit for relay 130. Energization of relay 130 also closesnormally open contacts 142 and 144 of the relay 130 to complete acircuit through a solenoid air operated valve 148 (Figures 6 and 7)which causes the spindle of the valve to shift to admit air from aconventional source (not shown) to an air cylinder 146 (Figure 6) whichis interconnected with the four-way valve 84 in such a manner that highpressure fluid will now be directed from the entry port 160 through line162 and into the high pressure side 53 of the oil cylinder 54. Thisaction will drive the piston 52, together with the pusher head 48,

forward to push the billet through the spray ring and out of thecabinet. Simultaneously with this action, the rams 60, moving with theram 56 through their mutual connection to the yoke 58, will be movedforwardly and will urge the water which had been stored in front of therams 62 through the spray nozzles at a predetermined rate to accomplishthe descaling of the billet. A relief valve 150 is utilized in parallelwith the high pressure line 151 leading from the pump to the highpressure side of the oil cylinder to prevent overloads on the system ifsome part of the system should become clogged with relay opens contacts142 and 144 of this relay and de-energizes thereby the coil of thesolenoid operated air valve 148. Deenergization of the solenoid operatedair valve 148 reverses the port opening of the air cylinder 146 whichoperates to close the high pressure outlet ports of the four-way valve84 leading to the oil cylinder 54 and to open the port to the lowpressure side of the oil system as described heretofore therebypermitting the low pressure oil and the pressure of the water from thesupply line to return the piston and the rams to the starting positionwhereupon the cycle will be completed. De-energization of the coil ofrelay 130 also causes contacts 166 to close. Energizing the coil of therelay 138 also closes, the contacts of relay 138 to provide a holdingcircuit through these contacts. De-energizing relay 100, as explainedabove, causes contacts 122 to open thereby dc energizing the coil ofrelay 120. At the extreme end of the return stroke, the bracket 164 onceagain strikes the limit switch 94 which breaks the circuit through thecoil of relay 138 at which time the cycle is ready to be repeated.

When it is desired to load the descaling machine from the front, theoperator first pushes the switch 104 which operates to close'contacts110 and to open contacts 106 and 108 of the selector switch, inasmuch asthe portions of the circuit which are controlled by contacts 106 and 108are not required when loading from the front. A billet is then pushedinto the cabinet from the front until it strikes a swinging lever 180(Figure 6) which is pivotally supported from the pusher head 48. Thelever 180 is operatively engageable with a push rod 182 to which issecured a contact sleeve 184. When the billet strikes the lever 180, thecontact sleeve, acting against the pressure of a return spring 186,trips a limit switch 124 and completes a circuit through contacts 110,switch 124, the normally closed contacts 128 of limit switch 136 andnormally closed contacts to energize the coil of the control relay 130.Energization of relay 130 closes the contacts 142 and 144 thereof andcompletes a circuit to energize the solenoid air operated valve 148 inthe same manner as described relative to side loading. The remainingpart of the cycle is identical with that which has been describedheretofore for side loading of the descaler.

I claim:

1. In a device for removing scale from the surface of a heated billet,the combination of means for supporting the billet, spray means, fluidlines connected to said spray means for conveying water thereto, andmeans to move the billet through said spray means and simultaneouslyfeed water under high pressure through said lines and said spray means,said moving means comprising a hydraulic cylinder having a pistontherein dividing the cylinder into a high pressure chamber and a lowpressure chamber, a piston rod extending from the low pressure chamberof the cylinder and'being directly engageable with said billet to movethe billet through the spray means during the high pressure stroke ofthe piston, a second piston rod extending from the high pressure chamberof the cylinder, at least one water cylinder connected to said lines, anoperating ram carried in said water cylinder, and a yoke secured to saidpiston rod and said ram for unitary movement therewith, said spray meansbeing automatically responsive to movement of said first mentionedpiston rod, said second piston rod, said ram, and said yoke.

2. In a device for removing scale from the surface of a heated billet,the combination of means for supporting the billet, spray means, fluidlines connected to said spray means for conveying water thereto, andmeans to move the billet through said spray means and simultaneouslyfeed water under high pressure through said lines and through said spraymeans, said last mentioned means comprising a pusher head engageablewith said billet, a fluid actuated piston, said piston being operativelyconnected to said pusher head for imparting reciprocal movement thereto,a source of high pressure fluid for operating said piston, a pair ofwater cylinders, said water cylinders being connected to said fluidlines for delivering Water therethrough under pressure, and ram means insaid water cylinders, said ram means being operatively connected to saidpiston for movement therewith, said spray means being instantlyresponsive to each increment of movement of moving means.

3. In a hydraulic device for removing scale from the surface of a heatedbillet, the combination of a spray ring adapted to receive a billettherethrough, at least one water cylinder having ram means therein, asource of water to fill said cylinder on the return stroke of said rammeans, a line from said cylinder to said ring for conveying water tosaid ring during the advance stroke of said ram means, an oil cylinderhaving a piston dividing said cylinder into advance and return chambers,means to supply oil at high pressure to said advance chamber, and a yokeoperatively connected to said piston for movement therewith, said yokehaving an operative connection to said ram means, said yoke, ram, andpiston coacting in the same direction.

4. In a hydraulic device for removing scale from the surface of a heatedbillet, the combination of a spray ring adapted to receive a billettherethrough, a pair of water cylinders having ram means therein, asource of water to fill said cylinders on the return stroke of said rammeans, fluid lines for conveying said water from said cylinders to saidring during the advance stroke of said ram means, an oil cylinder havinga piston dividing said cylinder into advance and return chambers, meansto supply oil at high pressure to said advance chambers, meansresponsive to the advance stroke of said piston to impart concurrentadvance stroke motion to said ram means, and a pusher head for movingthe billet through the spray ring on the advance stroke of the piston,said pusher head being directly connected to said piston for movementtherewith.

5. In a hydraulic device for removing scale from the surface of a heatedbillet, the combination of spray means adapted to receive a billettherethrough, said spray means comprising an annular movable member, aplurality of nozzles carried by said member, and check means in saidnozzles accommodating one-way flow of water therethrough, said checkmeans comprising a seat, a ball movable toward and away from said seat,resilient means urging said ball toward said seat, and stop means tolimit the movement of said ball away from said seat, a pair of watercylinders having ram means therein, a source ,of water to feed saidcylinders on the return stroke of said ram means, fluid lines connectingsaid cylinders to said nozzles for conveying water to said nozzlesduring the advance stroke of the ram means, an oil cylinder having apiston dividing said cylinder into advance and return chambers, otherfluid lines to supply oil at high pressure to said advance chamber, andmeans to impart advance stroke motion to said ram means, said lastmentioned means being instantaneously responsive to the advance strokeof said piston.

6. In a device for removing scale from the surface of heated billets;the combination of means for supporting the billets; spray means toimpinge a spray of water on the periphery of the billets as the billetsare moved therethrough, said spray means comprising a hollow ring, saidhollow ring being adjustably movable, and a plurality of spray nozzlescarried by said ring, said hollow ring and spray nozzles beingadjustably movable to provide equalized spray on the surface of saidbillets, regardless of the cross-sectional contour of the billets beingdescaled; and means to move said billets through said spray means at aconstant rate, said spray means being responsive to reach increment ofmovement of said moving means.

7. A descaler comprising an hydraulic cyl'nder with advanceand returnchambers, another hydraulic cylinder with areturn chamber, pistons inrespective chambers, means mechanically interconnecting said pistonsexternally of said chambers, a source of pressure water connected to thereturn chamber of said other cylinder, means to direct spray on a workpiece and having check valve means adapted to open at a pressure valuegreater than that supplied by said source, and means for deliveringpressure fluid to said advance chamber to expel water from saidlast-mentioned return chamber at a value suflicient to open said valvemeans and spray a work piece, and means connected to the piston in saidfirst-mentioned cylinder for moving a workpiece past said nozzle, saiddelivering means in return position delivering the related fluid to thefirst-mentioned return chamber at a value to produce return force on therelated piston less than that produced by the water source actingagainst the related piston.

8. In a hydraulic device for removing scale from the surface of a heatedbillet, the combination of a spray ring adapted to receive a billettherethrough, at least one water cylinder having ram means therein, asource of water to fill said cylinder on the return stroke of said rammeans, a line from said cylinder to said ring for conveying water to sadring during the advance stroke of said ram means, an oil cylinder spacedfrom the water cylinder and having a piston dividing said cylinder intoadvance and return chambers, means to supply oil at high pressure tosaid advance chamber, and means to impart advance stroke motion to saidram means, said means being disposed externally of said cylinder andbeing responsive to the advance stroke of said piston.

9. In a device for removing scale from the surface of a heated billet,the combination of: a fluid container, a spray device connected by afluid line to said container, means for forcing fluid under pressurefrom said container to said spray means, a hydraulic cylinder, pistonmeans reciprocal in said cylinder and connected to said force means foractuation thereof, means for supplying fluid of a different character tosaid cylinder to actuate said piston means on a forward and a returnstroke, a source of said first mentioned fluid for delivering the latterto said container at a certain pressure value, and means for maintainingthe force exerted on said piston means by said second mentioned fluid ata lower value than the force developed by said source against saidexpelling means whereby instantaneous operation of said spray device isafforded open actuation of said piston means on the forward strokethereof.

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